diggerdantheman wrote:tell us what you really think blood is never good though.

You know me Dan... hard to rile, but I should point out that each blood drawing hit was the birds first swoop. I heard no clacking, flapping or any warning .. just a thump to the side of the head, followed by the flow of claret / i thought someone had thrown a rock at me. Still sore over a week later.

Have been buzzed, clacked, swooped, chased and generally harrassed by many a magpie over the years, mostly good fun, but this bird has me spooked. I avoid that stretch completely now. Id rather face a studio full of angry, but alleged, future designers

Second Magpie up to the task. This time we had reversed the order on the road and Mrs C+W was leading (thinking the maggie was going for the rear most helmet) but said Magpie was much smarter. Two swoops directed at both of us (will split points) then Mrs C+W attracted an additional 3 swoops (would have been more but for covering traffic). then she got another swoop further up the road all to herself.

coffeeandwine wrote:... then Mrs C+W attracted an additional 3 swoops (would have been more but for covering traffic). then she got another swoop further up the road all to herself.

Mrs C+W: +5 points = 11 total

Me: +1 point = 2 points total

I think i will take her on all my rides over next few weeks.

Out for 50km with Mrs C+W as the decoy, then an extra 50km solo. All went according to plan at the start; first 2km and our magpie on the Midland Hwy had 2 goes at Mrs C+W and left me alone. (This fellow at least lets you know he is coming, he prefers a frontal assault rather than from behind).

A few more attacks during the first 50km saw us tied on 7 points each.

For my last 50km, all was quiet until about 15km from home in fading light, I had one magpie swoop me 11 times!!!! I figured it is a quiet stretch of road and he must have had a quiet day, or he was out to impress or something. I knew he was there from last year when he got quite aggressive (road between Mt Egerton and Yendon near Spread-Eagle Rd if anyone wants to know).

Some days it could be described as a free range aviary........ rural roads only, all lightly wooded and some farms have woodlots / plantations. All these roads have powerlines alongside so there is plenty of vantage / takeoff / landing spots for these feathered feinds.........

The last ride with 14 swoops counted was only a 36km affair too..........

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